Susan
Susan Hull Walker is a fiber artist, weaver, collector, and 
textile enthusiast living in Charleston, SC. Her father,
pictured here, is William E. Hull, of Birmingham, AL.
A Still Life…A Life Still
an ALS journal
Susan Hull Walker is a fiber artist, weaver, collector, and
textile enthusiast living in Charleston, SC. Her father,
pictured here, is William E. Hull, of Birmingham, AL.
Susan
Stephanie
A Still Life...A Life Still 
Your father is the best friend I have and the smartest man I know. We have been colleagues in theological education, where words seek to represent reality. In Isaiah God is quoted as saying our ways and words are less than His. But we keep trying to tell each other the Truth. Perhaps communication is what is important after all. Communication is the last thing ALS leaves; so Bill Hull continues to pour out good insights. The unbeatable foe can not silence him. Thank God! Duke McCall
Dr. William E. Hull is one of the most intellectually gifted, insightful, and articulate ministers to bless, inform, and inspire generations of Southern Baptist ministers and lay persons of twentieth century America. Through his writings, sermons, and lectures, his brilliant mind, keen intellect, and penetrating insight into human life, Christianity, society, and the church, he has richly blessed and inspired all who know him as master academician, theologian, New Testament scholar, pastor, and educational administrator. He inspired and enabled my ministry and my forty years service as librarian at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, just as he has for thousands of others; and has blessed my life immeasurably with our sixty year friendship. His fine social graces, his personal discipline, his love of his wife, children and family, as well as his many friendships are inspiring testimonies to his character, faith, and personhood, crowned with the magnificent faith, equanimity, and courage with which he is dealing with his sudden and unexpected ALS, all too early in his mature years.
Ronald F. Deering
Our bodies, attacked by age or ailment, finally fail all of us. But faith and friendship endure to the end, and beyond. Bill Hull has been a cherished advisor and example to me across the 45 years since we first met in 1965 at The Beeches. It has been a privilege to learn from him, to share the ideals and values that drive him to excellence in the cause of Christ, and to enjoy almost two decades as his colleague as we served side by side at both Southern Seminary and at Samford University. Perhaps the most eloquent lesson he has taught us all has come in the grace-ful way he has faced the challenge of ALS. His spiritual witness in these difficult days has transcended even his rare gift for words, and has underscored his long and fruitful ministry of teaching and preaching, blessing us all. Pat Pattillo
Susan, your writing is beautiful, so poetic and full of depth. Johanna
Hi Susan, I saw Marcia Whited recently in Portland and inquired about you. I’m very sorry to learn of your father’s illness. I’m so pleased to learn that you continue in the field of fiber arts. We have moved to Colorado to be near our son and his family. The looms are in the basement where I hope to return to weaving…probably tapestries…eventually. With love,
Carol Robison
Susan,
Your father is the reason I went to work at Samford to, in his words, “change the epistemology of writing” at Samford, a major task he supported entirely. I have always admired him and continue to for his strength in this illness.
Dave Roberts
Athens, GA
Susan, How is your father doing? I read and responded to his somewhat recent booklet on his health. As you know I am a childhood friend and want to be there when he dies. I have not been back in Birmingham for almost two years but still have relatives there. Newton Malony, Eugene, Oregon
Susan,
Your dad was my pastor at FBC Shreveport back in 1983. He and your mother were great friends of mine as well as wonderful and caring ministers to me personally. I am so sorry to read about his illness. Another friend from Shreveport and I were just talking about Dr. Hull today at church, reminiscing about our good times at First Baptist. Please pass along our good wishes and know that you and your family will be in my prayers.
Donna Herrington
Charlotte, NC
I want to send my heartfelt sympathy to you and your family. I doubt this message will go through, since efforts to share your writings have been unsuccessful. I admired your mother. She was a great lady. Your father’s illness and your mother’s illness and death are like the tsunami he wrote about. Iva Jewel Tucker
Susan, I am a second cousin to your grandmother. Erma’s mother and my paternal grandfather were brother and sister. She was a very dear friend to me and to my family. I remember your mother with much admiration and fondess, and am very saddened to hear of her passing. Please know that you and your family are in my prayers.
Hi Susan. Don’t know if you’ll remember me — we met at Samford when you were heading for ministry. Hope your trail has been a fulfilling one. I’m sorry about the loss of your mom, who was a beautiful, admirable lady. Your dad and I have exchanged a few letters since he got ALS. I regard his remarkable spirit and tenacity with awe. When I was at SU, he, Fisher Humphreys, John Claypool, Bill O’Brien, and I met weekly in his office for conversation. It was one of the best things about life in Birmingham. I pray for him every day now — mainly for him to be comfortable and at peace. Blessings to you and your brothers — and to your friend and her family. Your joint collaboration in this blog reminds me of a couple of entwined dogwood trees I once saw — each would have been beautiful alone, but, together, they were an image of paradise! John Killinger
Susan, I’ve never met you but I get a lot out of your blog. Your father is an amazing man! I taught at the school of nursing at Samford 1975-90. Dr. Hull was such a wonderful “breath of fresh air” when he arrived. Two of us in the SON worked closely with him as faculty governance was developed. Someone mentioned Dr. Hull was the reason they came to Samford…but he was the reason I left Samford. I was so young when I started teaching at SU (23) and I my plan was to spend my whole working life there. I can remember being in Dr, Hull’s office talking about challenges and although I can’t quote what he said, he sort of gave me a blessing and freed me to make a choice which has been a good one for me. Although I didn’t stay in touch with Dr. Hull, I’ve been a member at Southside Baptist for 10+ years now and I pass his picture every time I go to church. And I think of him & say a prayer for him…and for you. It is so inspiring to have a window on your world. Thanks so much for sharing!
Susan (if I may); I learned of your father’s work when I talked with a mentor of mine about how adrift I’ve felt lately. I’m the provost at a very small (miniature!) college, a New Testament scholar by training. But the questions I want to explore are beyond my training.
My mentor, Mikeal Parsons from Baylor, pointed me this morning to your father’s work.
The last thing I expected when I searched the web for “William Hull Samford” was this collection of beautiful, poetic prose. Thank you.
I pray that God bless you, your partner on this blog, & your family this Easter season.
Susan, I just finished reading your dad’s book “A Quest For A Good Death” your foreword was just wonderful. I first heard Dr. Hull preach at FBC Atlanta in Jan of 1961. I immediately became attached to him and his messages. It had been just a few years since I had made my profession of faith at the age of 22. I was very hungry to hear the Word of God.
A few months later on Easter Sunday, Dr. Hull began a revival at Druid Hills Baptist Church. The title of his sermon was “If Christ Be Not Risen”. It was magnificent. I attended all the rest of his glorious sermons the rest of the week. These sermons made a definite impact on my life. I sat and tried to write down every word he preached. Came close.
Through the years I kept up with Dr. Hull and attended almost every revival or preaching engagement anywhere near Atlanta. Dr. Hull quickly became a hero of mine. I ran into your father at Samford while enrolling my daughter for her freshman year, and we had a delightful chat.
A few years later, he spoke at our church, Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, and I showed him all the writings I had took while he preached at Druid Hills. He glanced at them, then asked me to mail him copies of the sermons. He later wrote me and told me I took very good notes.
My wife, Edith is now retired from SPdL, where she served as Minister of Children for over twenty years.
Dr. Hull was truly a wonderful, wonderful man of God. I never got tired of hearing his thought provoking and relevant sermons. He will be missed on this earth.
Reid Whitaker
I was privileged to be baptized by your father in 1985. His ministry was a blessing to me over the years, and I thank you for sharing him with the rest of us. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.